Display-machine.



W. C. CUTLER.

DISPLAY MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 10,1913.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

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HE NQRRIS PErERS CO PHQTOVLITHU., WASHANGI'ON, D c

W. C. CUTLER.

DISPLAY MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1o, 1913.

1,1 1 1,725. Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1w: NoRRls PETERS cor. PNOTOYLITN0, WASHINGTON. D. cv

WILIJIAM CLIFTON CU'ILER, OF SAWTELLE, CALIFORNIA.

DISPLAY-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

Application file/d July 10, 1913. Serial No. 778,332.

Tovall whom it may concern:

Bc it known that I, WILLIAM C. CUTLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sawtelle, in the county of Los Angeles and y State of California, have invented a new` and useful Display-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to display machines and particularly to a machine for display- 19 ing directory matter.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a display machine in which the subject matter to be displayed may be classified alphabetically, numerically or otherwisc, and having an index provided with characters cornesponding to the classification characters of the subject matter, so that the operator upon selecting by said index the character corresponding to the character under .which the information he desires is classified, may have such information displayed before him.

Another ,object of the invention is to provide a dis .lay machine having a platform connected with the display mechanism of the machine, upon which the operator is adaI ted to stand and depress the platform by his weight, which platform is adapted when depressed to actuate the display Mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide an index for the machine by means of which the operator may select from the slrhjpct matter which the machine is adapted to display, the particular information which he desires to have displayed to him.

Other objects will appear from the following description.

'A esirable embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the cabinet in which the mechanism of the machine is mounted, the index and the plat- 45. form'mechansm for actuating the display mechanism of the machine, ,the lower portion of the cabinet being broken away, andthe platform removed to show the platform mechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the index and selecting mechanism and its connection with the display mechanism of the machine. Fig. -3 is a cross sectional view of the. index` and selecting mechanism taken on line'x-qg of Fig'. Fig. 4t is a left @deelstaten ef the display mhamsm 0f the machine. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the display mechanism. Fig. 6 is a right side elevation, partly broken away, of the display mechanism and associated parts. Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating certain features of the card lifting and lowering means of the display mechanism.

The mechanism of the machine is mounted in a cabinet 1, in the base of which is an extension 2 above which is mounted the platform 3. An opening 4 which is covered by a glass panel 37 is located in the front wall of the cabinet near the top thereof, Von a level with the eye of a person of ordinary height, while standing upon the platform 3,. In the upper portion of the cabinet is located the display mechanism A. A frame 5 supports the various elements of the display mechanism which will now be described. A jiffy curtain 6 is wound upon the roller 7 journaled in the frame 5, and is adapted to slide in grooves 50 of guides 5l on said frame between the glass paneled opening 4 and the display cards to be described hereinafter, a weight 6 is attached to the free end of the curtain to drop the curtain.

Mounted upon shaft 52 journaled in the upper part of the frame 5 below the roll 7 is a pair of sheaves 24 to each of which is secured one end of a cord 53 which cords are adapted to wind upon or unwind from the sheaves according to the direction of rotation of the sheaves. The sheaves are located adjacent the ,guides 51 on the sides of the frame 5 and the lower ends of the cords 53 are connected to the card coupling element 26 at the ends of said clement which ends slide in grooves 54 in the guides 51.

The exhibits, consistingr of cards C upon which is placed the information which is displayed to the operator, are contained in a case l2 mounted upon a carriage 60 which travels in tracks 6l on the frame 5. A rack 62 secured to the carriage 60 meshes with a pinion 63 ,'ournaled in the frame 5, which in turn mes es with pinion 64 on shaft 65, the lower end of which is journaled in the frame.

An index I and selector S by means of which the desired information to be dis played is selected will now be described.

Mounted upon the upper end of the shaft 65 is an index disk 66 which rests upon a dial 67 and is journaled in a bearing 68 on said dial. An oscillative disk 15 is mounted upon the dial bearing 68 and rests upon and is maintained on said bearing against the lower face of said dial by means of a stationary disk 70 secured to the bearing 68 by screw 71. An index plunger is mounted upon the index disk 66 in a bearing 18 and is provided with an actuating button 11 by means of which the plunger is depressed in the manner and for the purposes more fully described hereinafter. An opening 76 is provided in the disk 66 through which the plunger 75 is depressed. A spring 77 rests between the button l1 and bearing 18 which spring normally maintains the lower end of the plunger above the lower face of the disk 66. The dial 67 and sta.- tionary disk 70 are provided with a plurality of holes 78 and 79 respectively, each of the holes 78 registering with a hole 79. The oscillative disk 15 is also provided with a plurality of holes 80 which normally rest slightly out of registration with the holes 78 and 79 of the dial and stationary disk. The location of the hole 76 in the index disk is such that it may be brought into registration with the holes 78 and 79 in the dial and stationary disk so that the plunger 75 may be depressed into said holes. The lower end 7 5a of the plunger is tapered so that it will enter the holes 80 in the oscillative disk when the plunger is depressed. Upon entering a hole 80 in said disk the tapered end of the plunger 75 acts as a cam against the edge of the hole and causes the oscillative disk to oscillate until the holes 80 are brought into registration with the holes 78 and 79 in the dial and stationary disk. The oscillative disk is provided with an arm 38 adapted to engage a bar 19 in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter described.

The upper face of the dial 67 is provided with a set of characters, such as letters, numbers or other indicia which correspond to a set of characters under which the displaying cards C are classiiied. The characters on the dial are so located that when the index plunger 75 is brought opposite one of said characters it will register with one of the holes 78 and one of the holes 79 in the dial and stationary disk respectively. rThe index plunger, index disk and dial above described are located outside the cabinet 1 upon a shelf on the cabinet in a convenient place for the operator while standing upon the platform 3, while the mechanism associated with said index parts is inclosed within the cabinet.

Pinions 31 and 90, mounted respectively on the curtain roll shaft 7 a and sheave shaft 52, are respectively engaged by racks 91 and 92 mounted upon the frame 5 whereby the curtain roll 7 and sheaves 24 are respectively rotated to raise the curtain 6 and the display cards C as hereinafter more fully described. Springs 10 and 25 surround the lower portions of the rack bars 93 and 94 and are maintained 011 said bars by collars 95 secured to the lower ends of said bars. A yoke 96, which surounds the bars 93 and 94 and rests upon the upper ends of the springs 10 and 25, is connected to one end of a lever 97 by link 98, the other end of which lever is fulcrumed upon the frame 5 at 100. An elongated link 36 connects the lever 97 with one arm of bell crank lever 9 mounted upon rod 101 journaled in the lower portion of the cabinet 1. A link 102 connects the other arm of bell crank lever 9 to the arm 103 of one of a pair of bell crank levers 104 mounted upon rod 105 journaled in the extension 2 of the cabinet 1. A link 106 connects the arm 103 of the other bell crank lever 104 to the arm 107 of bell crank lever 108 mounted upon rod 109 journaled in the cabinet extension 2. The arm 110 of bell crank lever 108 is connected to one end of bar 111, the other end of which is connected to arm 112 also Inountedyupon shaft 109. A bar 113 similar to bar 111 is connected at its respective ends to the arms 114 of bell crank levers 104. The platform 3 is mounted the bars 111 and 113.

The yoke 96 is connected to a rod 115 which extends through brackets 116 and is surrounded by a spring 117 between the yoke and lower bracket which spring normally maintains the yoke in its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 4. In this position of the yoke the spring 117 maintains the platform 3 through its connections with the yoke, in its uppermost position. Moreover, when the yoke is in its uppermost position the springs 10 and 25 are expanded and the curtain 6 and display card coupling element 26 are lowered.

A ratchet 120 on shaft 52 is adapted to be engaged by a pawl 23 pivoted upon a short shaft 22 journaled in the frame 5 to lock the shaft 52 and sheaves 24 against rotation, during which condition the coupling element 26 is maintained in its lowermost position. An arm 121 is secured on the shaft 22 and is connected by link 21 to one arm 122 of bell crank lever 20 fulcrumed upon frame 5 at 123, the other arm 124 of said bell crank lever being connected to the sliding bar 19 slidably mounted in a guide 125 on the frame, which bar is adapted to be engaged by the a'rm 38 of the oscillative disk 15, when said disk is oscillated by the index plunger 75, to disengage the pawl 23 from the ratchet 120 through the above described connections between said bar and said pawl.

A spring 126 acting upon the bar 19 norupon mally maintains the pawl 23 in engagement with the ratchet 120, and the oscillative disk in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawingv` with the holes SO therein out of registration with the holes T3 and 79 of the dial- (57 and disk 70 respectively.

A ratchet 131 mounted upon curtain roll shaft T is engaged by pawl 29 mounted upon Short sha tt 132 iournalcd in frame-5, normally to lock the curtain in its lowered position, in which position the curtain covers the opening l to nido the display niechanisin from view through said opening,- While said mechanism is 1n its non-displaying p0- sition. An arm 23 is also mounted upon shaft 13:? which arm is adapted to be eri-- has been elevated into displaying position,:

to lock the cardA in such position until the operator obtains the information which he desires and steps off the platform 3 vand the curtain 6 drops by gravity and covers the opening 4 in cabinet 1.

ratchet 35 by spring 137.

A stop 140 on the frame 5 is engaged by a pin 1411 on .the curtain roll 7 whereby the' winding motion of the curtain roll is arrested when the curtain is wound sufficiently vto uncover the opening 4 in the cabinet 1.

A pin on one of the sheaves 24 engages a pin 151 on the frame 5 to arrest the rotation of the sheaves 24 when the card C -has been elevated into register with the cabinet opening 4 or lowered into the case 12.

The card coupling element 26 is provided with a pair of lugs 13 which engage the hooks 39 on the cards C whereby a card is coupled to the cords 53 so that the card'may he elevated into displaying position upon rotation of shaft 52 and sheaves 24 in one direction or lowered out of displaying position into the case 12, upon rotation of said shaft and sheaves in the other direction.

The operation of my invention 1s as fol lows: Assume the display mechanism of the machine to be in its non-displaying position and the platform 3 in its uppermost position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. If the operator desires certain information classified for example under the letter A f,

he rst stands on the platform 3 and his An arm 32 secured; to shaft 135 is engaged by cam 34: on curtain shaft 7 to disengage the pawl 35S-from ratchet 35 to allow thel card to drop by gravity into the case 12, after the curtain has? dropped and covered the opening 4. :The pawl 33 is maintained in engagement with;

weight depresses the .platform and draws down the yoke 9 6 against the tension of the springs 117', 10 and 2; and thereby com4 presses Athese springs. VrIJ- he operator than grasps the hutten r1, .ti-urns the index 'dish- G6 until- "the plunger- 75 opposite the lotter- A on the dial 6 3'- and registrati@ viii-ih the hole Z8 in the dial ippQSiH-Saiilefi during which movement-ofthe index disk the shaft (35- is rotated the Carriage 'through thev medium ,of gears @Si and 6.3-, .and

rack G2 is moved along the traclrlrnntl the card marked A which is Contained in the. carriage case' 12 is brought into registration with the card coupling element ZGniid'Wh the card hooks 39 infengag'ement with .hhs lugs 1.3 of said coupling elements The Operator then presses doIw-n uponthe hutten 1.1 thereby depressing the plunger .'finto the a-PertureS'SO and iQ inV the '-osollative-- 4disk '15 and Astationary disk mirespetiirely and as. the lower taperedend of th-plungei;A

enters the hole 8 0 -in` the'oscillatve causes said disk to QsllatA -ur'tl the hole S0 registers with hQIeSLYS'andZQ inthe lated, thearm 3S thereof. engages 'the' hair 19, dra-.ws S21-id bill' jorward drawn forward fit rocks the bell-omni( over card marked A through" .the medium roo coupling element 2G i'saelevated into-re is .tration with opening 4 inthecabinet'lf ehind the curtain (S said card'beirig prevented from being drawn above said'o'peiing' ont of registration therewith by the enga-gement of pin 150 and-1,51; J-ust as said AShaft and sheaves complete their rotation the .chin 27 engages the arm 28, rocks' salida-rm and' shaft 132 and thereby disengages the pawl 29 from the ratchet 13 1 an as said pawl 23 disengage's Said ratchet 1.3-, the pand 3.3 iS drawn into engagement with'theratchat 2Q on shaft 52 by means of `spring 1 Zr" AS soon as lthe curtain roll -7 is release .by the disengagement lof lthe* 'pawlT 29 4from the ratchet 131, the spring 10 expands, drawsator "desires, Wlienthecard has been displayed, to the operator as long'as he desires to'see it,fthei operator steps off the plat form'- 3,-Whereupon` the spring 117 expands Land eleva/tes the yoke into its initial position gravity under-the inuence ot weight 6',

'unvvinding from the roll 7 in front of the card 4"and shutting 'the Card from vieW` through ltheopening 4 in the cabinet. As the-'froll l2" iis `rotated byfthei dropping and unwindingr 'of'the curtain Ythe pinion 31' is "rotatedand elevatesthe rack 91"and bar 93 t('i1i.1f'1itialposition",l as shownin Fig 4. When tlieifcurtai-n'has:dropped and covered the opening 4,' thev 'cam 34 von roll shaft 7 engages the ndo-f thearm y32 which in turn '-'rock's shaft 135and7dis`engages the: ratchet iwhereup'onithe cardfC drops'by gravity tiecard;oouplingeleni'ent 26 intofthe carriage 'case IQg at the asame 2 time rotating f the SheavesYQ,l shaft 52`and=pinion 90,v and draW-ing -upjthefrack 92'fin'to-its initial plosi-i f i pawl 'from said ratchet to display the ex fL Infa displaying machine, an'exhibit,`ian" exhibit coupling velement",ffcords vconnectedv to said-;zeleinerit;=. sheaves around" which said cords are yvoundto move saidI exhibit into displaying position, a shaft upon which the' sheaves aireinounted; 'a pinion ioni/said' shaft, aiiack-:engaging said pinion,fa 'spring forA 40Satuatingfsaidrrack, platform 'mechanism' adapted to' compress 'said-spring' when-the erator'stands ontt-h'e platform, means ffor'- lockingf said shaftv4 against v rotation, and

means for releasing said shaft to enable saidl Sspring =to expand to move the exhibit into sa .coupling element. A 2.1/Afdisplaying machine comprising a ica'binetprovided' With af'sight opening, a

curtainv for closing said opening, arollupon vvhich th'ecurtain is Wound, an exhibit adapted to be displayed'through said' openin a pinion inconnection with said curtain t ro v1,ara`cl meshing With'said pinion, means for reciprocating said rack to rotate 'said pixiiov and 'roll'1 to wind' upf the curtain to -ing,f;a pinion in connection with said curdisilaying position through the'mediumi of p i' rack; pinion, sheaves, shaft, cords and tain roll, a rack meshing with said pinion, a' spring for actuating said rack, platform mechanism for compressing said spring, means for locking said curtain roll against rotation with the curtain coverin said opening, means for releasing said ro l to enable said spring to expand to actuate the rack to cause the pinionand roll to rotate and Wind up the curtain to display said exhibit through said sight opening. 4. A' displaying machine comprising a cabinet provided With a sight opening, a curtain for said opening, a roll upon which said curtain is Wound, an exhibit, a shaft, sheaves Imounted upon saidshaft, cords connected to` said sheaves, an exhibit coupling element Iconnected to said4 cords for coupling the respective exhibits.` to said cords, a ratchet in connection with said curtain roll, a `pawl engaging said ratchet -to lock. thercurtain lin position when4 covering'said opening, an arm in connection `rWith said pawl, a cam on lsaid shaft means. for rotating said shaft and sheavesto-'Wind the cords on said sheaves to lldraW the exhibit coupled to saidcords into lrregistration vvith said openingl and to cause said cam to engage 'said :pavvl arm, to dis- 'engage said pawl from said ratchet, means 1 for Winding.- :uphthe `:curtain on said roll ,when-released by the disengagement ofsaid`Y g ibit through said opening, a ratchet 'on. said sheave shaft, a pawl adapted-to engage f said' sheave'ratch'et :when'the exhibit has been drawn into registration With said sight 7 ppening, to Alock they exhibit in displaying position, anarrn-in4 connection with' saidl pawl, a cam in connection With said curtain Irolljsaid.curtain/'adapted to unwind from `theI Toll'and'cover lsaid opening, :when the 1 exhibit' has' been? sufficiently displayed,isaid' curtain roll l'cam' adapted to engage said arm', -when the curtainfhasclosed said opening, tof: disengage the' pawl from the sheave ratchet to'enable the exhibit' tomovev out of registration with said sight opening.' 1 v 5. `A displaying machine comprising a cabinet provided with a sight opening, a curtain for said opening, a roll upon which said curtain is lWound, an exhibit, a shaft, sheaves mounted upon said shaft, cords connected to said sheaves, an'exhibit'coupliiig element for 1 coupling the respectiveexhibits to said cords, means `for rotating said shaft to Wind the cords on the sheaves, to draw the exhibit coupled by rsaid coupling element to said cordsinto registration'with said Iopening, a

ratchet on said sleeveshaft, a pawl for engagingvsaid ratchet when the exhibit has been drawn into registration with said sight opening to lock the exhibit in displaying position, an arm in connection With said pawl, a cam in connection with said curtain roll, and means for Windingup the curtain on said roll to uncover the opening and dis` play the exhibit through said opening, said curtain adapted to unwind from the roll and cover said opening when the exhibit has been displayed, said cam adapted to engage said arm when the curtain has closed said opening, to disengage the pavvl from said ratchet to enable the exhibit to move out of registration with said sight opening.

6. In a displaying machine, a plurality of exhibits, a dial provided With a plurality of holes, an oscillative disk provided with a plurality of holes, slightly out of registration with the dial holes, a selecting plunger rotatably mounted to turn upon said dial, adapted to be rotated into registration with the dial hole in relation to the desired eX- hibit to shift said exhibits to bring the de? sired exhibit into engaging position, displaying means for engaging said exhibit,

means for locking said displaying means until the desired exhibit has been selected by said plunger, said plunger having an engaging end, said plunger adapted to be depressed through said dial hole to cause said engaging end to engage the disk hole and draw said hole into registration With the dial hole to oscillate the disk, means intermediate said disk and said locking means for unlocking said locking means from said displaying means, and means for actuating said displaying means to display said exhibit.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 12th day of April, 1913.

WILLIAM CLIFTON CUTLER.

In presence of- A. F. TRIPPEL, E. A. HIGGINS.

copies o! this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

